Cincinnati stays perfect at home, wraps up a playoff berth

Bengals take care of business, clinch playoff spot in the process

1:13 AM,
Dec. 23, 2013

Cincinnati defensive end Carlos Dunlap recovers a fumble by Minnesota quarterback Matt Cassel, which was forced by middle linebacker Vincent Rey (57), in the first quarter of Sunday's game. Dunlap returned the ball deep into Vikings territory to set up the Bengals' first touchdown.

Written by

Paul Daugherty
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Note to ledge walkers, bridge jumpers and pessimistic acrobats of all stripes: You can come down now.

This is the NFL, and losing a game is expected. Every team does it. It's not usually because the other guys were "tougher," "more intense," "wanted it more," or because they slugged your punter in the jaw without suffering any in-game consequences. It is because they were better that day.

After the Bengals lost at Pittsburgh this past week, the masses were ready to call it a season. People who aren't fired today, should be cut tomorrow; everyone else should pack a bag. The pessimism was strange, ...